My Undying Affection Towards The Nikon F2

Jake Mongey

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Hello all! I just wanted to make a thread dedicated to the absoloute cockroach that is my Nikon F2! This is a camera that was gifted to me just after my 18th birthday and I saw as a decent but boring 35mm SLR at the time - I had a hasselblad kit I had just pieced together and a rolleiflex I had repaired! How could I get excited by a 35mm SLR?

However 6 years later this camera is the one camera I will never get rid off, it is absoloutely unkillable and has never failed to impress me. Lenses have come and gone as I have always bought rough as hell copies of really nice lenses and they have never really let me down, fungus and scratches never stopped me - nor did I ever notice a difference! This camera has been with me everywhere, I definately do not look after things and the thing that this camera has garnered affection from me for is that I can bring it EVERYWHERE and not worry if itll come out the other side. When I once had a miscommunication between my landlord and myself regarding rent I owed, I was faced with the option of selling either my hassy or my nikon - the Nikon stayed simply because of the versatility and I miss the hassy - alongside regret it with how much hasselblad prices have gone up since. But I am glad this nikon came with me, its never let me down.

This camera has shot EVERYTHING. Student projects, metal gigs covered in sweat and beer, high fashion, street photography, landscapes, cars and I have honestly not treated it well, its even once defended myself against a mugger in my endless stupidity at the time. I generally dont look after things when I am shooting, I am clumsy and dont think things through and wont worry about mud, rain or anything else! Yet the nikon F2 I can rely on knowing that no matter what antics I get up to or where I take it it will always work.

Shooting gigs I once was shooting up on the sound mixing stage up on a scaffold two stories up, whilst changing rolls a sound tech blew past and knocked my Nikon F2 and FE off the ledge down onto concrete. The FE survived but the focus screen holder broke, the F2 lost its plastic nameplate I picked it up, confirmed it was working and it looks like this to this day- I have told people I will get it sorted when it breaks finally, its been 5 years...
448760770_990043429045417_1345936448378862361_n.jpg

I am waiting for sover wong to open up some bookings to finally get this propely seen to however, I did breifly own another F2AS as a second body (I much prefer the match needle for judging exposure) and it made me realise just how worn out this camera is and I likely havent helped. The AS felt smooth and precise whereas all functions on this feel mushy and worn!

However I adore the F2 alongside its modularity and I wanted to share some of my favourite photos taken on this wonderful tank of a machine, please share your F2 Porn and photos taken on it below! This camera I will never sell!
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I really like it too although I haven't owned one in 10 years. I like the F3 a lot too though. Been thinking of them a little though. 🙂
Ive never got on with the F3, Love everything ergonomically but never got on with the LCD of the F3 - Ive always preferred the match needle for exposure! I think maybe one day ill pick up am F3 as a second body for specific situations. Maybe if I do more short films...
 
I was using the F2 starting at about the same age you did- but for me, means a half-century. I still have the ones I started with.

From 1978- showed a (then) 9-year old girl how to use it. "Zoey" would be in her later 50s now.

zoe1 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

You could buy another DP-11 to replace the one that is damaged, or just buy a non-working one for the nameplate. For the mechanics- it will need a major overhaul, as you know. Some cameras and lenses, I've dropped more into than would cost to replace for similar reasons. Others- I learned to repair myself. My F2a- I bought a Nikon CH-4 case for it long ago. The case itself is velvet interior/ Metal frame/ Leather.

The Nikon F2 was the last assembled-by-hand Nikon SLR. It was the last hand assembled camera until the Nikon S3-2000 and SP-2005 were issued.
Somehow- I've built up a dozen or so F2's and another dozen or so F's. A number of them given to me over the years. All now working.
 
I was using the F2 starting at about the same age you did- but for me, means a half-century. I still have the ones I started with.

From 1978- showed a (then) 9-year old girl how to use it. "Zoey" would be in her later 50s now.

zoe1 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

You could buy another DP-11 to replace the one that is damaged, or just buy a non-working one for the nameplate. For the mechanics- it will need a major overhaul, as you know. Some cameras and lenses, I've dropped more into than would cost to replace for similar reasons. Others- I learned to repair myself. My F2a- I bought a Nikon CH-4 case for it long ago. The case itself is velvet interior/ Metal frame/ Leather.

The Nikon F2 was the last assembled-by-hand Nikon SLR. It was the last hand assembled camera until the Nikon S3-2000 and SP-2005 were issued.
Somehow- I've built up a dozen or so F2's and another dozen or so F's. A number of them given to me over the years. All now working.
That image really reminds me of some of the images taken by my grandfather in Hong Kong in the 1960s, I am not sure why but its just the hair and overall tonality!

Mine certainly deserves a good going through - I used to repair rolleiflexes and various lab machines, I certainly could have a look but this camera is so sentimental I want it done by the best. I actually have managed to get an original nikon shoulder bag for it in good condition. But the Nikon F2 is really something special and an experience every time.
 
Hello all! I just wanted to make a thread dedicated to the absoloute cockroach that is my Nikon F2! This is a camera that was gifted to me just after my 18th birthday and I saw as a decent but boring 35mm SLR at the time - I had a hasselblad kit I had just pieced together and a rolleiflex I had repaired! How could I get excited by a 35mm SLR?

However 6 years later this camera is the one camera I will never get rid off, it is absoloutely unkillable and has never failed to impress me. Lenses have come and gone as I have always bought rough as hell copies of really nice lenses and they have never really let me down, fungus and scratches never stopped me - nor did I ever notice a difference! This camera has been with me everywhere, I definately do not look after things and the thing that this camera has garnered affection from me for is that I can bring it EVERYWHERE and not worry if itll come out the other side. When I once had a miscommunication between my landlord and myself regarding rent I owed, I was faced with the option of selling either my hassy or my nikon - the Nikon stayed simply because of the versatility and I miss the hassy - alongside regret it with how much hasselblad prices have gone up since. But I am glad this nikon came with me, its never let me down.

This camera has shot EVERYTHING. Student projects, metal gigs covered in sweat and beer, high fashion, street photography, landscapes, cars and I have honestly not treated it well, its even once defended myself against a mugger in my endless stupidity at the time. I generally dont look after things when I am shooting, I am clumsy and dont think things through and wont worry about mud, rain or anything else! Yet the nikon F2 I can rely on knowing that no matter what antics I get up to or where I take it it will always work.

Shooting gigs I once was shooting up on the sound mixing stage up on a scaffold two stories up, whilst changing rolls a sound tech blew past and knocked my Nikon F2 and FE off the ledge down onto concrete. The FE survived but the focus screen holder broke, the F2 lost its plastic nameplate I picked it up, confirmed it was working and it looks like this to this day- I have told people I will get it sorted when it breaks finally, its been 5 years...
View attachment 4851218

I am waiting for sover wong to open up some bookings to finally get this propely seen to however, I did breifly own another F2AS as a second body (I much prefer the match needle for judging exposure) and it made me realise just how worn out this camera is and I likely havent helped. The AS felt smooth and precise whereas all functions on this feel mushy and worn!

However I adore the F2 alongside its modularity and I wanted to share some of my favourite photos taken on this wonderful tank of a machine, please share your F2 Porn and photos taken on it below! This camera I will never sell!
View attachment 4851220
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I have a Nikkormar Ft, an F, F2. and F3. I can't let ANY of them go 😉
 
I actually have managed to get an original nikon shoulder bag for it in good condition.
Have to ask- Which Shoulder Bag?
My favorite- the FB-5, bayonet mount plate for 3 lenses and one body. Leather, actually for the Nikon F. The FB-8, two cameras: but horrible dry-rot, also common with most F2 FB series cases. The FB-11a- indestructible and lots of room. Leather, last forever.
 
I had an F2 and I liked the body, never could stand the meter heads. If I ever go back that way again, I'll look for a F with a 1963 serial number and a plain prism and hand meter it instead 🤣

Now as far as _I_ am concerned, Nikon's peak perfection in film SLR's was the F4. Nothing better before or since. Matrix meter's everything, I can even flip up the little follower to use a pre-ai lens that hasn't been fixed yet. I can see the settings at a glance and I can feed it four AA batteries at any gas station in the world. and it just fits my hands perfectly since I don't use the extended grip. A little heavy but if you ever meet a mugger, he'll lose and the camera will be fine. 😈

Best auto-focus camera for manual focus lenses ever made. It does only have the one auto-focus point but I don't do sports and my kid is just shy of 23 now so that's no longer a big deal 👍
 
Have to ask- Which Shoulder Bag?
My favorite- the FB-5, bayonet mount plate for 3 lenses and one body. Leather, actually for the Nikon F. The FB-8, two cameras: but horrible dry-rot, also common with most F2 FB series cases. The FB-11a- indestructible and lots of room. Leather, last forever.
You have forced me to check and I am in fact a filthy liar! I have an FB17 for a nikon F4 if I am correct - it hasnt suffered from dry rot but the pad on the shoulder has been known to stain a perfectly good shirt once worn to a job interview...
 
I had an F2 and I liked the body, never could stand the meter heads. If I ever go back that way again, I'll look for a F with a 1963 serial number and a plain prism and hand meter it instead 🤣

Now as far as _I_ am concerned, Nikon's peak perfection in film SLR's was the F4. Nothing better before or since. Matrix meter's everything, I can even flip up the little follower to use a pre-ai lens that hasn't been fixed yet. I can see the settings at a glance and I can feed it four AA batteries at any gas station in the world. and it just fits my hands perfectly since I don't use the extended grip. A little heavy but if you ever meet a mugger, he'll lose and the camera will be fine. 😈

Best auto-focus camera for manual focus lenses ever made. It does only have the one auto-focus point but I don't do sports and my kid is just shy of 23 now so that's no longer a big deal 👍
Interestingly the F4 is the other body I would consider specifically for the metering capability, that or the FA. The F4 is a a masterpiece. I did however spend 4 months shooting an F6 on a job with mostly MF lenses in god awfu lighting conditions and oh my! That meter was genuinely infallable, I NEVER got a bad exposure despite when being called for stills trying to explain to the gaffer I need maybe 4 stops more light and that the shutter speed on a panavison camera doesnt translate well to stillls.
 
I had an F2 and I liked the body, never could stand the meter heads. If I ever go back that way again, I'll look for a F with a 1963 serial number and a plain prism and hand meter it instead 🤣
👍
So you would not rather have an F2 with Eyelevel and a hand-held meter. Interesting...
f2_1.jpgf2_5.jpgf2_6.jpg
 
Long time ago I opted for the Nikkormat. Bought it in Subic on my way to Vietnam. I didn’t think I needed a camera that had the removable light meter, prism. I still own it and it works great. I was on a small ship in the U.S. Navy and we spent a lot of time in S.E. Asia. I made quite a large number of photographs using both black and white and color slide film.
I also bought quite a few Nikkor lenses, Sasaki hand cut crystal and Noritake china. I sent all of it, except camera and lenses, to my parents duty free and free freight. Got a few freebies for all the crap I went through. I paid $16.00 taxes for the year I was in Vietnam.

I made photographs of B-52 bombings, Navy Phantoms doing their tasks and other ships like bird farms. And the ship I was on, not much with action photographed as I didn’t want to be on deck when the big gun was firing. Wanted to be able to hear.
I visited many places I won’t get to again.
That black Nikon looks very similar to my Nikkormat. Only my Nikkormat is silver not black.
 
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The F2 was always my dream camera though I started with a Nikkormat FTn, and when I finally got one, I knew exactly why. It was such a joy to use compared to the original F with their clunky meter heads and mercury batteries. The F2 is one of the few cameras I ever bought more than one of, though each one is a different variation depending on which prism it has and whether the body is chrome or black. An F2S was the first one, and the most recent is an F2AS which I got for $22.00 because the finder release lever was broken off and it was being sold by some widow who had a booth in an antique mall. I'm going to replace it with a lever from a defunct DP-1 since I bought an eye-level prism for that camera.

Here is a photo of my dressed out F2S, ready for action!

Nikon F2S with MD-3 Drive and MB-2 Battery Pack by P F McFarland, on Flickr

And some examples from the F2AS.

Sharps Mountain Road Derelict by P F McFarland, on Flickr


The Shine by P F McFarland, on Flickr

PF
 
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